EOH3202
Occupational Health
Dr. Emilia Zainal Abidin, PhD
emiliazainal@gmail.com or za_emilia@upm.edu.my
(response time < 24 hours)
Office: 03 8947 2643
13 April 2014
PJJ Bac Sc. Human Resource Dev 2nd Semester 2nd Meeting
Were there any problems we need
to discuss?
Module – everyone has a copy?
 Other reference books – Kesihatan di Tempat
Kerja
 Assignments OK?

Emilia Zainal Abidin
Questions on Individual Assignment 1?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe the 4 objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994
Malaysia.
Compare and describe the differences between the Occupational Safety
and Health Act 1994 and the Factory and Machinery Act 1967.
Use and Standard of Exposure to Chemicals Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2000 requires workers being exposed to solvents to undergo
medical surveillance at regular intervals. True/False
What are the main functions of Department of Occupational Safety and
Health, Malaysia?
Please explain particle size fractions of dust.
Please explain the aerodynamic behavior of particles in airstream and
particle deposition in human lung system.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Questions on Individual Assignment 1?
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Explain the noise regulation being used in Malaysia.
Please describe the steps to control dust exposure in a construction site.
Please explain the roles of professionals in the field of occupational health.
Define the term ergonomic hazard.
List four acts that are enforced by the Ministry of Human Resources
Malaysia.
Define radiation. Discuss two types of radiation by giving appropriate
examples.
Alpha radiation cannot travel far through air. How far does it go? What
material will absorb alpha radiation? State two safety precautions for
handling radioactive sources.
Discuss how Malaysian workers are compensated for occupational injuries.
Explain 3 major incidents which occurred globally and in Malaysia that lead
to the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Questions on Individual Assignment 2?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identify the impact of sickness absence to the employee and
employer.
Explain the mechanism by which organophosphate poisoning
occurs. Include 2 diagrams to describe normal muscle
function and muscle function with neurotoxic agent.
Give the steps in control and management of pesticide
exposure in a paddy farming agricultural setting.
Pesticides are categorised into different groups. Explain the
classification of pesticides.
Use and Standard of Exposure to Chemicals Hazardous to
Health Regulations 2000 requires workers being exposed to
pesticides to undergo medical surveillance at regular
intervals. True/False
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Questions on Individual Assignment 2?
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Using the hierarchy of control concept, explain how a safety and
health manager could manage psychosocial hazard related at the
workplace.
Give examples of personal protective equipment suitable to
protect workers from exposure to chemicals in a chemical
manufacturing factory.
Why personal protective equipment is considered as a “last
resort” for use in the hierarchy of control to protect workers
from hazardous substances?
List the effects of chronic pesticide poisoning. Describe briefly
each type of effect.
Define occupational stress and list common occupational
stressors. List the diseases associated with occupational stress and
as a manager of human resource, please describe the management
of occupational stress.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Cont.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Describe the group of workers at risk for biological hazard
exposure. Elaborate on the classification of infective
microorganism by risk group.
Describe 2 models to explain the cause of occupational
stress.
Define and describe Material Safety Data Sheet or Chemical
Safety Data Sheet.
Describe the different work compensation scheme available
in Malaysia for private employees, civil servants and foreign
workers.
Define biological monitoring. Describe the role of biological
monitoring and describe how biological monitoring is done.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Cont.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Please define what sexual harassment is and please
describe the different forms of sexual harassment that
might occur at the workplace.
What are the potential hazards of working underwater?
What should be included in Medical Emergency
Response Plan? What are the elements of Emergency
Response Plan?
What is the required number of first aider in a
workplace? What is the content of a First Aid Box?
What is the definition of risk communication and what
are the 3 goals of risk communication?
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Your Recent Mid-Semester Examination
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Chapter 1 to 11 from module
2 hours examination
50 objectives
5 out of 8 short answer questions
How well did you do?
Comments or feedback to improve the type of questions
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a._____________________________________________
b._____________________________________________
c._____________________________________________
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Our Coming Final Exam in May 2014
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Chapter 12 to 22
2.00 hours?
50 objectives?
5/8 short answer questions?
Any requests?
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Responsibility to protect the safety health
and welfare of workers and visitors
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Duties of an Employer - OSHA 1994 Section 15 – 19
To ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees and
visitors.
To formulate safety and health policy. Extra protection for the disabled
etc.
There are seven regulations under OSHA 1994 that enforced by DOSH.
1
Employers’ Safety and Health General Policy Statements (Exception)
Regulations, 1995
2
Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations, 1996
3
Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Hazardous Chemicals
Regulations, 1997
4
Safety and Health Committee Regulations, 1996
5
Safety and Health Officer Regulations, 1997
6
Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health
Regulations, 2000
7
Notification of Accident, Dangerous Occurrence, Occupational
Poisoning and Occupational Disease Regulations, 2004
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Duties of Safety and Health Officer
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to advise employer on the safety and health measures;
to inspect and determine the safety of work place;
to investigate any accident which has happened in the work
place;
to assist employer in organizing and implementing OSH
programme;
to become secretary to the committee;
to assist the committee in any inspection of the work place;
to collect, analyze and maintain statistics on any accident,
dangerous occurrence, occupational poisoning and disease
which have occurred at the work place;
to assist any officer in carrying out his duty under the Act;
to carry out other instruction made by the employer on any
matters pertaining to OSH.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
OCCUPATIONAL
HAZARDS
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Stress, boredom, burnout
PHYSICAL AGENTS
noise, vibration, radiation,
defective illumination,
temperature extremes, dusts
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
viruses, bacteria, fungi,
parasites, insects, etc.
CHEMICAL AGENTS
Solvents, gases, vapors,
fumes, mists, pesticides
etc.
LACK OF ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES
exhaustive physical exertions,
excessive standing, improper
motions, lifting heavy load, job
monotony, etc.
Occupational health is about identifying
hazards and controlling it
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Identify the hazard and suggest control
methods…
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Identify the hazard and suggest control
methods…
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Identify the hazard and suggest control
methods…
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Identify the hazard and suggest control
methods…
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 12: Chemical hazards – Pesticides
Based on chapter in module
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Classification of pesticides – use?, toxicity, chemical prop.,
Occupational exposures of pesticides
Toxic effects from exposure
Neurotoxic effect – acetyl cholinesterase function diagram
??
How to control and manage pesticide use in the workplace
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Agricultural workers Farmers
Handling pesticide with bare hands
Wear short pants and short sleeves
without proper PPE
20
Apply most of the protection but
without proper mask
No boots and poor work practices
21
Exposure to Organophosphate pesticide
May result in:
build-up of acetylcholine
cholinesterase inhibition
constant firing of electrical
messages
potential symptoms of:
DUMBELSS
-Diarrhoea
-Urination
-Miosis/Muscle weekness
-Excitation of skeleton
muscles of CNS
-Lacrimation
-Sweating
-Salivation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zFgT4aof
A
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 13: Bio hazard management
Based on lecture notes
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What is biohazard? - A substance derived from an
organism, that poses a threat to (primarily) human
health.
Divided into:
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Body fluids pathogen – Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Protozoa,
Parasites
Animal – insects, birds
Recombinant DNA – genetic engineering, cloning
Nano-technology
Classification of infective microorganism by risk
group?
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References are made to the relative hazards of infective microorganisms by
World Health Organization Risk Groups 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 14: Occupational Psychosocial Hazards
Based on chapter in module and lecture
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Scope of occupational psychosocial hazards
 Work-related stress
 Workplace violence
 Bullying
 All types of harassment
 Work-life imbalance
Type of psychosocial hazards
Questionnaires
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Psychosocial
hazards
Examples from Leka et al. 2003
Job content
Lack of variety or short work cycles, fragmented or meaningless work,
under use of skills, high uncertainty, continuous exp to people through work
Workload and work
pace
Work overload or underload, machine pacing, high level of time pressure,
continually subject to deadlines
Work schedule
Shift work, night shifts, inflexible work schedules, unpredictable hours and
long or unsociable hours
Control
Low participation in decision making, lack of control over workload
Environment and
equipment
Inadequate equipment, poor environmental conditions such as lack of space,
poor lighting, noise
Organisational
culture and function
Poor communication, low level of support for problem solving and personal
development, lack of definition of organisational objectives
Interpersonal
relationship at work
Social or physical isolation, poor relationships with superiors, interpersonal
conflict, lack of support, bullying and harassment
Role in organisation
Role ambiguity, role conflict and responsibility of people
Career development Career stagnation and uncertainty, under promotion or over promotion,
poor pay, job insecurity, low social value to work
Home-work
interface
Conflicting demands of work and home, low support at home, dual career
problems
Conceptual Frame Work of Stress
Home
environment
Work load
OCCUPATIONAL
STRESSORS
Time and System
Management
Organizational
relationship
Work
environment
Health status
FAMILY & SOCIO
DEMOGRAPHIC
STRESSORS
OUTCOMES OF STRESS
Family
Conflict
Financial
ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECT
1. Physiological
2. Psychological
3. Behavioral
Work environment
Personality
Training
MODYFYING
VARIABLES
Knowledge
SUPPORT
Skill
Social
Interaction
Coping mechanism
Emotional
support
PERCEIVED STRESS
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What to focus on?
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Chapter 15: Prevention and Control principles
Based on module
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E
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e
n
e
s
s
Prevention and control according to the hierarchy of control
Elimination
 Substitution
 Isolation or Enclosure
 Engineering Controls e.g Local Exhaust Ventilation
 Administrative Controls/Safe Work Practices
 Personal Protective Equipment
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Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 16: Workers’ compensation
Based on the module and half of lecture
Work compensation scheme in Malaysia
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Private – SOCSO or Perkeso
Civil servants – Ex-Gratia Scheme
Foreign workers – Insurance from the Workmen
Compensation Act
Self-employed – None
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SKIM PERKESO
SKIM FAEDAH PERKESO
SKIM INSURANS
BENCANA PEKERJAAN
Bencana pada seseorang
pekerja sendiri disebabkan
oleh kemalangan atau suatu
penyakit khidmat terbit
daripada dan dalam
masa menjalankan pekerjaan
dalam sesuatu perusahaan.
SKIM PENCEN ILAT
Skim ini memberi
perlindungan 24 jam kepada
pekerja terhadap keilatan
atau kematian akibat
sebarang sebab yang tidak
berkaitan dengan pekerjaan.
Faedah yang disediakan
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SKIM INSURANS BENCANA
PEKERJAAN
Faedah Perubatan
Faedah Hilangupaya
Sementara
Faedah Hilangupaya Kekal
Elaun Layanan Sentiasa
Faedah Orang Tanggungan
Faedah Pengurusan Mayat
Faedah Pemulihan
Faedah Pendidikan
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SKIM PENCEN ILAT
Pencen Ilat
Bantuan Ilat
Elaun Layanan Sentiasa
Pencen Penakat
Faedah Pengurusan Mayat
Faedah Pemulihan
Faedah Pendidikan
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 17: Biological monitoring
Based on the module and notes
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What is biological monitoring
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Biological monitoring is the measurement of a substance
or its metabolite in biological material in order to provide
a quantitative estimate of its uptake into the body by all
routes of exposures
What are the objectives of biological monitoring?
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To ensure that current or past exposure of worker is not
harmful to his/her health by detecting potential excessive
exposure before overt adverse health effects occur
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Exposure, absorption and effects*
Ambient monitoring
Ukur dos yang diserap
dalam badan pekerja
(bentuk tidak berubah)
contoh: ukur plumbum
dalam darah
Ukur pendedahan di
persekitaran contoh:
ukur debu atau bunyi
bising di persekitaran
selama 8 jam
Exposure
Internal
dose
Biological monitoring
Adverse
effects
Ukur kesan perubahan
yang berlaku dari dos
terdedah contoh: ukur
Cholinesterase enzyme
akibat organofosfat
Biological effect monitoring
*Adapted from Cassarett & Doull’s Toxicology 5th Edition, ed. Klassen CD pp995. McGraw Hill, 1995
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 18: Stress and Violence and the workplace
Based on the module and lecture
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Definition
Scope and characteristics
Any action, incident or behaviour that departs from reasonable
conduct in which a person is assaulted, threatened, harmed,
injured in the course of, or as a direct result 1 of, his or her
work.
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Internal workplace violence
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is that which takes place between workers, including managers and
supervisors.
External workplace violence
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is that which takes place between workers (and managers and supervisors)
and any other person present at the workplace.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 19: Cause and effect of sick leave
Based on the module and lecture
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What is sick leave?
The benefit of sick leave
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Human right
Protect the worker
Cost of losing an employee
is greater than the cost of
providing sick days to
retain existing employees
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Absenteeism in business case
Unhealthy and unsafe
workplace
Accidents and injuries
Work related illness
Job dissatisfaction
Lack of job commitment
Depression
Violence
Work related
stress
Unhealthy personnel behaviour which
will bring to non communicable disease
Heavy Smoking and drinking drugs
Increased cost, decreased productivity, decreased
quality of product, fines, imprisonment
Absenteeism
Short and long term disability
Health insurance
Increased cost,
decreased productivity,
decreased quality of
product, fines,
imprisonment
Workers compensation and claims
Turnover
Union grievance
Increased cost, decreased productivity,
decreased quality of product, fines,
imprisonment
Business
failure!
Sources: WHO (2010). WHO Healthy Workplace Framework and Model: Background and Supporting Literature and Practices.
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Example: Tools for tackling
short term absence
• Rigorous notification procedure
• Return to work interviews
• Should all short term absences be counted?
• Medical evidence?
• Withholding sick pay
• Employee health initiatives
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Example: Tools for tackling
long term absence
• Keep in touch
• Early intervention 4-6 weeks
• Consider temporary adjustments
• Be proactive in asking for medical advice
• Preferably Occupational Health Practitioner
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 20: Water and Air Decompression
Based on the module and lecture
 Gas laws – Boyle and Henry
 Hyperbaric work environment (kerja di
persekitaran bertekanan tinggi)
 The effects of hyperbaric work environments
 Decompression sickness and other symptoms –
kesan seperti bends
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Boyle’s Law
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The mechanical responses to changes in pressure are in accordance with
Boyle's Law, which states that a volume of gas is inversely proportional to
the pressure to which it is subjected, temperature remaining constant.
Henry’s Law
 The
amount of gas in solution is proportional to
the partial pressure of that gas over the solution
 As the pressure of the gas above a solution
increases, the amount of that gas dissolved in the
solution increases
 Reverse is also true, as the pressure of the gas
above a solution decreases, the amount of gas
dissolved in the solution decreases and forms a
“bubble” of gas within the solution
Henry’s Law Illustration
Low pressure equilibrium
Low concentration
Double the pressure equilibrium
Double the concentration
How does the increased pressure at
depth affect gas in the body?
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The increased pressure of each gas component at depth
means that more of each gas will dissolve into the blood
and body tissues, a physical effect predicted by Henry's
Law
Inhaled gases are in close contact with blood entering
the lungs
Hence, the greater the partial pressure of any inhaled gas,
the more that gas will diffuse into the blood.
Symptoms of decompression sickness
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Bends DCS Type
Bubble Location
Signs & Symptoms (Clinical Manifestations)
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BENDS
Mostly large joints of the 
body
(elbows, shoulders, hip,

wrists, knees, ankles)

Localized deep pain, ranging
from mild (a "niggle") to
excruciating. Sometimes a
dull ache, but rarely a sharp
pain.
Active and passive motion
of the joint aggravates the
pain.
The pain may be reduced by
bending the joint to find a
more comfortable position.
If caused by altitude, pain
can occur immediately or
up to many hours later.
Symptoms of decompression sickness
CHOKES
Lungs
SKIN BENDS Skin
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Burning deep chest pain
Pain is aggravated by breathing
Shortness of breath
Dry constant cough
 Itching usually around the ears,
face, neck arms, and upper torso
 Sensation of tiny insects crawling
over the skin
 Mottled or marbled skin usually
around the shoulders, upper
chest and abdomen, with itching
 Swelling of the skin,
accompanied by tiny scar-like
skin depressions
Symptoms of decompression sickness
Brain
NEURO
LOGIC
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Spinal Cord
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Peripheral
Nerves
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Confusion or memory loss
Headache
Spots in visual field, tunnel vision, double vision, or blurry
vision
Unexplained extreme fatigue or behaviour changes
Seizures, dizziness, vomitting and unconsciousness may
occur
Abnormal sensations such as burning, stinging, and tingling
around the lower chest and back
Symptoms may spread from the feet up and may be
accompanied by ascending weakness or paralysis
Girdling abdominal or chest pain
Urinary and rectal incontinence
Abnormal sensations, such as numbness, burning, stinging
and tingling
Muscle weakness for twitching
What to focus on?
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Chapter 21: Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and First Aid
Based on the module
ERP should include
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Procedures
Emergency medical equipment
Internal and external contact and support
Management of injury and triage
Evacuation plan
Training to those involved
Local facilities
Give knowledge to all workers
Elements of ERP – evacuation plan, area custodian/damage
control team, fire brigade, emergency medical facility
What is in First Aid Box?
Emilia Zainal Abidin
What to focus on?
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Chapter 22: Risk Communication
Based on module
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Definition of risk communication
Primary goals of risk communication
Risk communication strategies
Principles of risk communication
Emilia Zainal Abidin
Thank you.
Any questions?
Emilia Zainal Abidin